Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FabJob Guide to
Become a
Cruise Ship
Worker
Julie E. Botteri
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Contents
How to Use This Guide ............................................................................................... 3
About the Author .......................................................................................................... 7
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 8
1.1. This Is Cruising ......................................................................................... 8
1.1.1 Cruising Is Growing ...................................................................... 9
1.1.2 Benefits of a Career At Sea .........................................................10
1.2 Inside This Guide .................................................................................... 11
2. Job Titles and Descriptions .................................................................................13
2.1 Hotel Operations .....................................................................................14
2.1.1 Hotel Director and Assistant Hotel Director .................................14
2.1.2 Purser Staff .................................................................................14
2.1.3 Shore Excursions ........................................................................16
2.1.4 Port and Shopping Lecturer ........................................................17
2.1.5 Art Auctioneer ..............................................................................18
2.1.6 Information Systems ...................................................................18
2.2 Food & Beverage ....................................................................................19
2.2.1 Hotel Controller ............................................................................20
2.2.2 Food & Beverage Manager ..........................................................20
2.2.3 Bartender ....................................................................................20
2.2.4 Waiter or Waitress ......................................................................21
2.2.5 Chefs and Cooks ........................................................................22
2.3 Cruise Staff Department .........................................................................22
2.3.1 Cruise Director ............................................................................22
2.3.2 Assistant Cruise Director ............................................................23
2.3.3 Social Hostess ............................................................................23
2.3.4 Cruise Staff ..................................................................................23
2.3.5 Disc Jockey .................................................................................24
2.3.6 Youth Activities Coordinators .......................................................25
2.3.7 Fitness Instructors ......................................................................25
2.3.8 Dive Instructors ...........................................................................27
2.3.9 Golf Pro .......................................................................................28
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Ready ........................................................................................................40
Documentation .........................................................................................40
Learning About Cruising .........................................................................41
General Skills ...........................................................................................42
3.3.1 Customer Service .......................................................................42
3.3.2 Languages ...................................................................................44
3.3.3 First Aid & CPR ...........................................................................46
3.3.4 Computer Literacy .......................................................................46
3.4 Consider Your Talents ............................................................................47
3.5 Education Programs ................................................................................48
3.5.1 College Degrees .........................................................................48
3.5.2 Cruise Training Courses .............................................................49
3.5.3 Dive Training ................................................................................51
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1. Introduction
1.1. This Is Cruising
Just as commercial passenger jets changed the face of travel, so have ocean liners
altered the way we traverse the seas. Today, we can cross the oceans in a matter of
days instead of weeks or months.
Glamorized by the hit TV show The Love Boat, cruising has evolved into a booming
industry. Cruise ships offer all the essentials that traditional land-based destinations
do, but with so much more variety. They are sleek ships with comfortable and spacious
accommodations, luxurious bedding and baths, private verandahs for viewing pleasure,
and glamorous dcor throughout the vessel.
Traditional and ethnic restaurants, lounges, cafes, even traditional English pubs are
springing up on cruise ships. Sports, fitness and entertainment are inherent to a cruise,
but who would have imagined you could watch an ice skating show on a Caribbean
cruise? Try rock climbing? Shoot a virtual round of golf?
The phrase floating resorts may be overused, but its hard to deny the attraction of a
5-star hotel at sea. With the introduction of the mega-ships (over 100,000 gross
registered tons, or GRT) in the 1990s, they are literally destinations themselves.
Smaller ships are increasingly popular, either powered by engines or sails, because
they offer a much more intimate cruising experience.
Travelers can now choose to cruise anywhere from three days to three months, or even
purchase a suite at sea to live in! The attraction is the mobility the option to include a
variety of international destinations all in one voyage. This zest for travel is also what
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draws people from all over the world to staff and run the ships, making them tick from
noon till night.
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Free Travel
Because you are onboard the ship, naturally you go where it goes! There are hundreds
ports of call including Bermuda, the Caribbean islands, Scandinavia, Russia, Europe
and the Mediterranean, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Central and South America,
Australia, Tahiti, Asia and Africa.
Additionally, the cruise line or employment agency will pay for your travel expenses,
including airline tickets to the ship. Immediate family members can also travel with you
at a reduced rate once you have worked a required amount of time for that cruise line.
You can earn a free cruise for yourself and family!
TIP:
No Expenses
No rent, utility bills, car payments to worry about! You are able to save virtually all the
money you earn. This is what makes a career at sea so financially alluring. There are
often two to four weeks vacation or personal time between contracts.
Medical Coverage
Most cruise lines offer full health coverage onboard, including ashore in the U.S. (for
U.S. citizens). This will be detailed in the terms of your contract. Dental coverage and
treatments are typically your responsibility as a crew member.
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Competitive Salaries
Income level depends upon which cruise line you work for, your job description, past
experience and your ability to negotiate a contract. Typical salaries start at $1,500$2,500 a month. With experience, salaries range up to $8,000 a month, depending
upon the position. Some cruise lines offer additional benefits like 401K plans, stock
options and profit sharing.
Growth Potential
Cruise travel is on the rise, requiring thousands of jobs be filled to meet the demand.
The number will vary with the size of the vessel, but all types of work are available such
as cruise staff, youth counselors, entertainers (dancers, vocalists, instrumentalists,
solo acts), computer technicians, photographers, salon/spa personnel, casino dealers,
as well as food, beverage, and hotel departments. As long as the cruise lines are in
business, they need staff and crew to serve and entertain the passengers. They
need you!
On-the-job training is inherent, and cruise lines prefer to promote from within. For nearly
all entry-level positions, no prior cruise ship experience is necessary! In order to be
successful and persevere you simply need self-motivation, enthusiasm and a thirst for
adventure. You will move up the ladder quickly if you exude all these qualities.
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Once you know what job youd like to have, Chapter 3 (Getting Ready) discusses
what documentation you will need to get hired for a job on a cruise ship or luxury yacht.
This chapter also gives information about how to educate yourself and hone the skills
that will give you an advantage over other applicants. Youll learn how to focus on your
existing talents and make them work for you in landing a dream job onboard.
Once you are ready to start looking for a job, Chapter 4 (Getting Hired) will give you
the tools to get started. There are literally dozens of cruise lines to choose from. In this
chapter you will learn about different types of employers and how to make initial contact
with them. This chapter also gives you information about employment agencies that
hire for cruise ships, how to prepare a resume package, interview dos and donts, and
what companies look for in shipboard candidates.
This guide also includes advice to help you succeed even after youve landed your first
cruise ship job. In Chapter 5 (Life Onboard), you will discover what crew life entails
and what will be expected of you on a daily basis. This chapter offers insider tips from
past and present crew members on how to get asked back for consecutive contracts,
and make the best of your time at sea.
Finally, the Appendix gives you a glossary of terms so you can talk like a cruise ship
pro, plus live links to more than 35 top cruise lines.
This guide includes valuable resources from the cruise industry. Youll learn where to
find current job openings and how to match your search with a cruise line that is best
suited for you. This guide is written to arm you with the information necessary to take a
job at a moments notice. The rest is up to you!
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